Ground Beef Spinach Pasta Recipe
This one-pot Ground Beef Spinach Pasta is the weeknight hero you didn’t know you needed—hearty, cheesy, and sneakily packed with greens so you feel like a responsible adult. Bonus: it all comes together in one pot, which means fewer dishes and more time to question your life choices over a second helping.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 369kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- 1 jar pasta sauce 24 ounces
- 1 jar water
- 1 pound cavatappi
- 1 package fresh spinach 5-6 ounces
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat, add beef and cook until brown. Add garlic and cook for a minute or two.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon garlic
- Add the Italian seasoning and marinara sauce, fill sauce jar with water put the lid back on it and shake it, pour it into the pot. Stir in pasta, reduce to medium heat and cook 13-15 minutes or until pasta is tender.1 jar pasta sauce, 1 jar water, 1 pound cavatappi
- Add spinach and cook, stirring constantly until wilted.1 package fresh spinach
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and stir until melted.¾ cup parmesan cheese
Notes
If you’re using regular ground beef, you’ll want to drain the excess grease before adding the other ingredients, it helps keep the sauce from getting oily and keeps the flavor just right.
Heads up—the pasta will take longer to cook than the package directions say. That’s because it’s not boiling in plain water; it’s soaking up all that saucy goodness. The key is to keep it at a gentle simmer so the liquid gets absorbed around the same time the pasta hits that perfect al dente stage. On most stoves, that means medium to medium-low heat, but every stove and pan has its quirks—so adjust as needed. And don’t forget to stir often to keep things from sticking to the bottom.
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Nutritional information is approximate.
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Nutrition
Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 622mg | Potassium: 783mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3770IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 4mg